Cool weather will slow corn germination

Submitted by admin on Mon, 04/25/2011 - 08:00

Hoard's Dairyman:

Cool weather will slow corn germination

Date:

Mon, 04/25/2011

Under ideal conditions, corn will emerge in 10 days or less after planting. But, the cool, wet weather throughout much of the Corn Belt during April has been anything but ideal. Given these cooler soil conditions, germination could take three weeks or more once corn is planted if temperatures remain lower than normal.

Corn’s germination process involves several steps which are driven by temperature. The corn seed must first absorb 30 percent of its weight in water, note Pioneer agronomists. Seeds can absorb water below 50º F; however, growth will not occur until soil temperatures are above 50º F. As temperatures rise, the processes required for germination occur at a faster rate, leading to more rapid emergence.

Typically, about 125 accumulated Growing Degree Units (GDU) are required between planting and emergence. To calculate GDUs in your area, take the daily high temperature plus the daily low temperature and divide by two. Take that high-low average and subtract 50. For example, if the day’s high is 70º and low is 42º, six GDUs would be accumulated in the given day.